Littleton Powys facts for kids
Sir Littleton Powys (born around 1647, died 1732) was an important judge in England. He was also a member of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists.
Sir Littleton Powys: Early Life
Sir Littleton Powys was born around 1647. His father, Thomas Powys, was a lawyer from Henley Hall in Shropshire. Littleton was named after his mother's father, Sir Adam Littleton.
He was baptized in a town called Bitterley on April 27, 1647. He went to Shrewsbury School and then studied at St Edmund Hall, Oxford in 1663. After that, he joined Lincoln's Inn to study law. In May 1671, he became a lawyer. Littleton Powys married Agnes Carter in London on December 3, 1674.
His Career as a Judge
In 1688, Sir Littleton Powys supported William of Orange when he became king. Because of this, he was made a judge on the Chester court circuit in May 1689.
In April 1692, he became a "Serjeant-at-law" and was given the title of knight. This meant he was a very senior lawyer. On October 29, 1695, he became a judge in a court called the Baron of the Exchequer. Later, in June 1700, he moved to the Court of King's Bench, another important court. He officially started there in January 1701.
While working in the King's Bench, he was part of a famous court case called Ashby v White. This case was about voting rights during an election. Sir Littleton Powys and most of the other judges decided against the person who brought the case.
He retired from his job as a judge on October 26, 1726, when he was 78 years old. In 1724, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society. This is a group for important scientists and thinkers. He died in 1732. People thought he was a good and respected judge, even if he wasn't as famous as his brother, Sir Thomas Powys.
Personal Life and Legacy
Sir Littleton Powys was a supporter of Bitterley Church. In 1707, he helped build a new section in the church. He was buried there after he passed away in 1732. Today, a painting of him can be seen at the Tarlton Law Library at the University of Texas at Austin.
